Movie Review: Godzilla vs. Kong

The ostensible sequel to 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the new film Godzilla vs. Kong pits the king of the titans against, well, “the” King in an epic battle for the ages. The new film delivers an abundance of action, but little else as the character-driven plot of the first film takes a back seat to the title match between the two behemoths.

These legendary monsters collide with, ultimately, the fate of the world at stake. Reprising her role as Madison Russell (aka the Godzilla Whisperer) is Millie Bobby Brown, who along with her spunky friend Josh (Julian Dennison) and conspiracy blogger Bernie (Brian Tyree Henry), follow Godzilla as he tears across the globe unleashing a torrent of destruction. Meanwhile, Kong is accompanied by young Jia (Kaylee Hottle), with whom he has forged a special bond, and her mother Illene (Rebecca Hall), in his attempts to intercept Godzilla to hopefully put an end to the worldwide destruction currently taking place. Alexander Skarsgård joins Team Kong as Nathan Lind, a company man who eventually comes to see Kong as the hero that he is. Also returning, albeit briefly, from the first film is Kyle Chandler as Madison’s father.

Adam Wingard takes the reigns as director, replacing Michael Dougherty (who still contributed to the story for the new film), and he delivers a far superior action film than one would expect given the epic scope of the production itself. Screenwriters Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein move the story swiftly between the two converging plotlines until the film reaches the main event in the final act. Even then, Pearson and Borenstein manage at least one surprise that, although some may claim to see it coming more than a mile away, still rewards in the most spectacular of ways.

While the score provided by Junkie XL accents the action appropriately enough, it is often overtaken by the sheer volume of visual effects and accompanying sound design that of course intrinsic to the film itself. Although the cinematography by Ben Seresin focuses more on the darkness and destruction the two titans bring to the world, it sets the perfect mood and tone for the entire piece. Similarly, the cutting by Josh Schaeffer moves the story briskly through its near two-hour running time and somehow manages to not let up the pace at any point.

Although there is nothing terribly wrong with Godzilla vs. Kong, there isn’t really too much that is entirely epic about it either other than the film’s premise and title. That makes it a bit of a disappointment that could have delivered far more than it ultimately does.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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